In 1980. in former Yugoslavia, Eastern Europe, in a typical Communist Party control burlesque I was forced to resign as one of editors of STUDENT – University of Belgrade, Yugoslavia weekly magazine which was recognized world-wide at the time for being outspoken against Yugoslav and Serbian Communist Party tight control of culture, media, art and life in general. Soon after I started Independent Journalist Workshop (Samostalna Novinarska Radionica) in Yugoslav capital city of Belgrade’s world known SKC (Studentski Kulturni Centar) – a cultural and art content outlet, where with collaborators we created “live papers” programs with live interviews, live essays, live photography and live political cartoon performances. We were touring with “live papers” specially “problematic” at Zagreb University dept. of Philosophy in Croatia, then also part of Yugoslav federation.
Back in Belgrade “live papers” issue on April 6. 1980. created spontaneous large public support on the main Knez Mihailova boulevard in Belgrade, and Independent Journalist Workshop was banned by intervention from the police on the street, six of us were arrested, and Serbian Communist Party Central Committee order closed Independent Journalist Workshop down.
Soon after I went to Nicaragua to report from Sandinista’s communist revolution reality. As a photo-journalist in Nicaragua’s civil war I became a disappointed witness of Sandinista’s revolutionary communist “management” of what dictator Somoza left in that poor banana republic country. A summary how “history teaches nothing” was my somber realization while reporting on revolution changes that were everything but that. My Centro-American photo-journalist work from Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador was distributed by France Press International and Vjesnik news agencies, some of it to 86 countries worldwide at that time, 1980-1981.
Upon return to Yugoslavia I did freelance photo-journalist work for major weekly magazines Zum-Reporter and Start and many others. My first documentary book “Film and Idols on Lands End” (Film I Idol Na Bali Zemlje) was a photo story book about two most popular new-wave bands in Yugoslavia in the early 80ties on a summer Adriatic riviera two moths tour. My book was announced and exclusively previewed in Yugoslav big press, radio and tv all over at the time, but after print ready book material went to censorship commission publisher called me and said they will pay my book contract but can not publish the book because “of the situation”. That was very common expression for censorship. Communists knew my book about two most popular bands at the time will sell as many copies as two band’s vinyl LPs which was at the time in 100.000 plus copies for both bands. I was led to believe my book is gonna be published and my “earlier media sins were forgiven”, even allowed me to share some exclusive details in a promo “coming out soon” warm up but then in the last minute – halt! They knew I will not be able to stand that lack of freedom to express anymore.
From this four decades perspective my censored rock’n’roll tour book “Film and Idols On Lands End” even not directly talking about it actually was loaded with prediction like moments, photos and feelings shared all over on the tour how something very tragic is going to happen in the near future in Yugoslavia… and sure enough the country fell apart a decade later in three horrible civil wars and severe NATO bombardment – damage done is not over yet for common people there.
Soon after my book censorship at the end of 1982. I left Yugoslavia totally frustrated and outraged. Combined with clear somber experience from revolution in Nicaragua I came to clarity that real change can happen only inside of oneself and how quest to liberation, peace and happiness is not a “group thing” but an individual option, choice and responsibility.
Life in my USA almost voluntary exile opened ancestry and heritage drive and inspiration in my creative process. My work’s language become more photography, graphic design and video as I was not good enough in my English.
In American melting pot I was inspired by different spiritual and cultural traditions, ancient wisdom studies and application, practice of yoga and future of creative expression with modern technology innovative ways.
Still connected by visits to Yugoslavia my second book “SILICON DHARMA” was published by Mladost, Belgrade, Yugoslavia in 1991. Same publishing house which did not publish my censored book ten years earlier. My “Silicon Dharma” Mladost, Belgrade, Yugoslavia, 1991. actually was the last title published by that huge Yugoslav publisher prior to country’s horrible fall into the chaos of three brutal civil wars. I find this irrelevant trivia fact sadly karmic.
In commercial art in USA I was art director, photographer and graphic designer for some major companies and publications primarily in Chicago and San Francisco Bay Area – like WGN TV, Q101 radio, PC World, Macworld magazine.
In fine visual art I was awarded with Award of Excellence from state of California (“Talk What You Think”- polaroid collage, Sacramento, CA. 1986.) My “Eagle 1/7” (color photograph/assemblage) was exhibited in selection of San Francisco Museum Of Modern Art director late Mr. Henry J. Hopkins. My “Eagle 2/7” was purchased with honor by Humboldt State University of California. I had eleven one man shows and more than hundred group exhibits and shows of photography, digital imaging and video and slide projections accompanied by readings and/or live music and dance.
My third book “Pogodak u Prazno” was published by Jugoistok, Belgrade, Serbia, part of former Yugoslavia in 2003.
With late David Albahari one of the most distinguished writers from Eastern Europe I collaborated on a book of short stories “Poslasticarske price” (Candystore Stories) published by Arhipelag, Belgrade, Serbia in 2008.
From documentary video material I accumulated on my pilgrimages I made “TIBETAN TRINITY: life death time” a documentary film trilogy from one end of Himalaya at Annapurna to the other end of Himalaya at the Karakoram range, visiting holy places and being present at once in a lifetime occasions for Tibetan Buddhist tradition. This documentary trilogy was shown in USA from NYC and Vermont to LA and San Francisco and also in Austria, Croatia, Serbia and Greece in a “meet the author” formats and larger occasions.
My “TIBETAN TRINITY: life death time” and related photo exhibit “RAW DEVOTION” was part of five consecutive annual Tibetan Sand Mandala for World Peace programs at University of Arizona Tucson Campus; with different Tibetan Buddhist guest teachers who are world wide known masters of traditional Tibetan sacred sand mandala painting.
Trough deep connection with Tibetan Buddhist tradition and practice I organized and hosted a historic first time ever visit of three Tibetan Buddhist lamas to Serbia who made a sand Mandala For World Peace in my birth own of Belgrade in June 2014. During this special two weeks occasion I made my second documentary “BEOGRADSKA MANDALA” (Belgrade mandala) with in depth step by step explanation of Tibetan Buddhist spiritual sand painting process, and decoded mandala’s deep meaning and holistic power.
Two parts of my book trilogy MOUNTING A TIGER are available now: part one “LIBERATION FROM AMERIKA” and part two “THE PILGRIMAGE”, and part three coming out next year 2025. after my photo story book “INTO THE HEART OF GOLD: TRIP OF A LIFETIME” in her fourth edition tours during this year 2024.
Also am in the process of Medicine Buddha interactive game creation, and for more details see here under blog option AI MEETS AI. And looking for a major sponsor of this revolutionary approach to gaming.